Teacher(s)

Stephan André;

Language

English
> French-friendly

Content

Description

This course aims to equip you with the knowledge and skills to plan, devise, implement and revisit a parametric building design for a given site and for a range of environmental and construction-related considerations. The course uses Rhinoceros 3D and Grasshopper as well as other plug-ins to equip you with the necessary experience in parametric design.
The course is taught fully in English.

Main themes

• Theory of parametric design
• Parametrising 3D modelling
• Grasshopper
• Environmental design (climate analysis, bioclimatic design, embodied environmental flows modelling)
• Intro to optimisation: Constraints and objectives
• Reflexivity in parametric design

Learning outcomes

At the end of this course, you will be able to:

1. Plan, devise, implement, test, revisit and critique a parametric design for a given building;
2. Embed a range of constraints and objectives into the parametric environmental design of a building;
3. Present your work in a concise and graphically stimulating manner;
4. Provide constructive feedback to your peers to help them improve their work; and
5. Demonstrate awareness vis-à-vis the latest international developments in parametric architecture and design.

Prerequisites

A good of command of English, both written and spoken (level B2 at least).

Teaching methods

The subject is organised into 12 weekly seminars of 3 hours each.
The seminars are held online to facilitate paricipation across campuses.
Students are required to attend the seminar in person three times during the semester, in Brussels/St Gilles (first week, week 9 and last week).

Evaluation methods

Your performance is evaluated throughout the semester and through different means, as per the calendar below:

• Case study of parametric building: Due week 3: individually, prepare one A3 landscape poster of a building designed parametrically, presenting the outcome and the design process, with a critique of the building. (20%)
• Parametric Design Plan: Due week 6: draft report, describing your parametric design approach and how you intend to proceed (mandatory, 0%)
• Peer-review of Parametric Design Plan: Due week 7, 500 words peer-review of the Parametric Design Plan of one of your peers (10%)
• Parametric Design Report: Due week 12, 4000 words report describing your parametric design approach, and including the digital files, to be submitted online (55%)
• Parametric Design Presentation: Last week of the semester, In-person presentation about the report and the parametric design approach followed by questions and answers (15%)

Online resources

See the course on Moodle

Bibliography

Parametric Design in Rhino and Grasshopper:

• Tedeschi, A. (2014). AAD, Algorithms-aided design: parametric strategies using Grasshopper: Le Penseur.
• Di Marco, G. (2018). Simplified Complexity: Method for Advanced NURBS Modeling with Rhinoceros®: Le Penseur.

Environmental Parametric Design:

• Hollberg, A., & Ruth, J. (2016). LCA in architectural design—a parametric approach. The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, 21(7), 943-960. doi:10.1007/s11367-016-1065-1
• Stephan, A., Jensen, C. A., & Crawford, R. H. (2017). Improving the Life Cycle Energy Performance of Apartment Units through Façade Design. Procedia Engineering, 196, 1003-1010. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proeng.2017.08.042
• Stephan, A., & Crawford, R. H. (2016). The relationship between house size and life cycle energy demand: Implications for energy efficiency regulations for buildings. Energy, 116, Part 1, 1158-1171. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2016.10.038

Relevant websites:

• https://parametric-architecture.com/
• https://parametrichouse.com/
• https://grasshopperdocs.com/
• https://www.ladybug.tools/

Academic conferences on parametric design:

• http://ecaade.org/
• https://www.caadria.org/

Faculty or entity

LOCI